Some FEATURED ARTISTS on this week’s Stronger Than Dirt (Saturday, April 25, 8-10pm) include the Hollies, Brian Eno, Avengers, Jam, Nina Hagen, Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club, Pretenders, Devil Dogs, Clearlake, lots of new music as well as the weekly Dusty Diamond.
COVER ART OF THE WEEK: Formed in 1962 in Manchester by singer Allan Clarke and rhythm guitarist/singer Graham Nash, the Hollies enjoyed chart success on both sides of the Atlantic with hits like “Just One Look,” “Bus Stop,” and “Carrie Anne.” While Nash left the group in 1968 to co-form Crosby, Stills & Nash, the rest of the band remained intact and active well into the 2000s. Their 6th studio album, the pop psychedelic “Evolution,” was released on June 1, 1967, the same day as the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The original UK release on Parlophone featured a design by the Fool, a Dutch art collective, with a psychedelic photo by Karl Ferris. The American release on Epic and the Sundazed reissue shown here, featured the Ferris photo without the Fool’s cover design. (Click on image to enlarge)
DUSTY DIAMOND OF THE WEEK (a vintage gem from the STD vaults): The Fire Dept. were a British garage rock band that were part of the Headcoats/Billy Childish scene of the 90s. Formed in 1987 they disbanded in 2004 after releasing two albums and a few singles. “Musical Day” is a gritty, shambolic, soaked in reverb pounder with just enough melody to keep it together. Produced by Liam Watson at Toe Rag Studios, it appeared in 1995 on their first album, “L’Oeuf D’Or” (“Golden Egg”) on the Hangman’s Daughter label. Listen to it here:
Promo art from a 1983 s/t Avengers collection on the C.D. Presents, Ltd. label. Photo by Marcus Leatherdale.